1961: Hark! The INCREDIBLE Solo BELL-RINGER | Tonight | Weird and Wonderful | BBC Archive

[@susanhague4719]

I have seen that done once with the chiming bells where I ring. Wonderful! And her dedication to ringing (yes, RINGING) otherwise silent bells speaks volumes for those who will not leave them to hang silent and dead from a lack of ringers. Chiming bells are also rung - and 'changed' - for the joy of them and for bells that are rung up to be totally silent because there are none to give them voice would be a shame. Great clip. Thanks BBC Archive.

[@RingerLuca651]

If people are curious where this was filmed, this is St Peter's in Lodsworth, West Sussex. It's one of my nearest towers. This would have been filmed before they were augmented to six. Unfortunately, there isn't a local band still, but Midhurst ringers ring for weddings, and sometimes we can arrange a quarter on them for evensong once a month

[@RingerLuca651]

A few years after this recording a group of ringers from Petworth and Stedham displayed interest in them, and they were behind the project of adding the two newer bells. During this time they were rung a lot especially for performances and long lenghts of ringing. At some point they stopped, but us ringers from Midhurst still ring them fairly often, at least Once a month

[@robertoc2485]

Thanks for the info. Very interesting

[@Gutenmorgenside]

Awesome, they don't make them like that any more. Rare expertise and eccentricity.

[@rachelmayes298]

I love how he calls her Mrs,Martindale, and she call him Sir. Those were the days.

[@christophercooper6731]

When abuse is the church was swept under the carpet.

[@robertwoods6349]

Masterpiece of Bellringing at its best. A legend from an era much loved.

[@TheHarrip]

God love her English national treasure

[@robertoc2485]

Well said

[@kmarch6630]

Hearing that very often would drive me nuts.

[@buxvan]

A one woman band. All she needed was a mouth organ with a holder. Love these old clips.

[@leeshepherd6512]

Got to love the wow in the audio 😂

[@64bakes]

It's a complete wow & flutter fest

[@gallitron7803]

My friend asked me if I knew what campanology was, I said the name rings a bell.

[@croiners4166]

Wow!❤

[@jasonayres]

Oh, Mrs. Martindale.🤔 That name rings a bell. After all that effort, and by herself, too.. You'd think she'd be at the end of her rope. (1:15) "..We can't quite hear your voice.." Occupational hazard, that. You know- ringing in your ears.

[@roddymcniven8734]

Come on bro, cut her some slack

[@kmarch6630]

Groan. 😅🤣

[@daviddixey]

She was at the end of her rope(s).

[@fidelcatsro6948]

She mustve had incredible arm muscles 💪🐱👍

[@garryleeks4848]

Must be the dumb 🔔 bells 👍

[@tdoran616]

Young women today: “I’m quirky” Her: actually quirky.

[@gump5ter01]

I think I know that women. She rings a bell

[@garryleeks4848]

Good one

[@heraldeventsandfilms5970]

@@garryleeks4848 Really? F-wit level, both of you.

[@gump5ter01]

@@garryleeks4848 I’m sorry.

[@garryleeks4848]

@@heraldeventsandfilms5970I’m sorry 🥲

[@gump5ter01]

@@heraldeventsandfilms5970 you good ?

[@skylark.kraken]

She seems a little confused like she just got stuck ringing the bells over and over

[@adamm2693]

it takes focus!

[@OwenSimmons323]

It takes a lot of concentration and effort to chime four bells at once!

[@PlanetImo]

She'd have had to have been pretty fit to have kept that up. What stamina!

[@geofftodd7831]

Isn’t that Alan Whitaker doing the interview? On Tonight with Cliff Michaelmore??

[@robertoc2485]

The great Alan Whicker. Remember Wicker's World?

[@Ringerjay2]

I want to ring there where is it ?

[@OwenSimmons323]

St Peter's lodsworth

[@OwenSimmons323]

Now has a nice little ring of 6 I believe

[@RingerLuca651]

@@OwenSimmons323 not really that nice 😆

[@OwenSimmons323]

@@RingerLuca651 on fair enough

[@eiffe]

BING BING BONG!

[@shysonofficial]

I believe ther was another "BONG" there, four bells she said give her credit!

[@Lighting_Desk]

This is one of my many niche.

[@simonridley6609]

Would be interested to know where this was filmed.

[@RingerLuca651]

Lodsworth

[@garryleeks4848]

This can’t be real or is it 😂😂

[@adamm2693]

very real!

[@soundscapesbysam]

I've seen this done with my own eyes, minus the fourth bell, in Nottingham

[@OwenSimmons323]

Yep it's possible as long as the bell is down

[@petergivenbless900]

Hmmm... I wonder if those skills may be transferrable?😏

[@badgerboy4448]

Bet she was strong/fit

[@garryleeks4848]

Wouldn’t mess with her 😬

[@RedfoxCGLM]

she is chiming not ringing

[@wimweender1306]

😊😅❤

[@Veni_Vidi_Vortice]

Mad as a box of frogs. I don't know how Whicker kept a straight face.

[@Revdrwilliam]

Well there is nothing wrong with being mad. She has got a great skill!

[@rogersmith8339]

That is not bell ringing! It is an awful racket like you hear on the continent. There are people who can ring changes two in hand but they are rather special. This woman is rather "special" in a very different way!

[@original.dwornboy]

Calm down pal.. This all happened over 60 years ago.

[@kitm141]

You’re aware that this was 60 years ago? I’m sure you could do much better, I’ll wait to see you on the BBC. How joyless, to mock someone doing something she loves, or loved - and we know what you mean by “special”. Unnecessary and unkind.

[@adamm2693]

lmao it is WONDERFUL! to see snobbish ringers put down by outsiders, and rightly so!! 😂😂

[@rogersmith8339]

@@original.dwornboy And that makes a difference? I am sorry, but for this sort of thing to be broadcast now is in rather poor taste. In Victorian times they found entertainment in visiting asylums, are you suggesting it would be fine to broadcast that?

[@rogersmith8339]

@@original.dwornboy Then why does it need to be shown now? Is it not making a fool of the poor lady?